Free Black Eyed Peas Concert In Central Park Canceled Due To Weather

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: (L-R) Singers Taboo, will.i.am, Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson and apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas accept the Top Duo or Group award during the 2011 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for ABC)The Black Eyed Peas accept the Top Duo or Group award during the 2011 Billboard Music Awards. (credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for ABC)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — We’ve got a feeling…that the Black Eyed Peas made a whole lot of soaked New Yorkers angry Thursday night.

The free concert that was pushed back to an 8:45 p.m. start due to thunderstorms and lightning, was canceled around 8:15 p.m., much to the dismay of fans who waited several hours for the gates to open.

“We were out here since 3 o’clock. The heat was uncontrollable until about 5:30. Then the skies opened up. I can understand why they called the concert. But it’s still disappointing because we were here since 3 o’clock,” Patrick Moore told CBS 2’s Hazel Sanchez.

The show was also supposed to feature performances by LL Cool J, Carole King, MC Hammer, Debbie Harry and Taylor Swift. It was to benefit Robin Hood, an anti-poverty group in New York City.

The Great Lawn in Central Park (credit: Al Jones, 1010 WINS)

Earlier Thursday the heat index in Central Park hit the 103-degree mark, but once the rain came through the concern quickly became severe weather. A line of thunderstorms swept across the Tri-State Area and knocked out power to thousands of homes, including many in Connecticut.

“It’s ridiculous, it’s a let down,” one man told 1010 WINS’ Al Jones, “I’m disappointed. I’m not even a fan, I came out to support the event.”

“Tonight’s gonna be a bad night,” a man named “Ron” and his family started singing as they got word that the concert was canceled after several hours of waiting for the gates to open.